How do you get rid of milk spots?

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Quick Answer

Milk spots, also known as milia, often resolve without any treatment, explains Patient.co.uk. In severe and persistent cases, a doctor can prick the milia with a fine needle and express the contents. Cryotherapy, dermabrasion, laser treatments and chemical peels are other possible treatments for milk spots.

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Milk spots are hard, pearly white bumps that appear under the surface of the skin, usually on the face, according to Jo Fairley and Sarah Stacey for The Daily Mail. They are small cysts that contain dead skin. In children and adults, milk spots sometimes develop following skin damage, such as burns, sun damage, skin resurfacing procedures, extensive use of steroid creams and conditions that cause blisters, states Healthline.

About half of newborn babies develop milia a couple of days after they are born, but the spots disappear on their own within two or three weeks, reports BabyCenter. In some cases, milia last for a couple of months in infants. Milk spots are not contagious, and their presence does not indicate future susceptibility to acne or other skin conditions. Vigorous washing of the milia may cause irritation, and squeezing them may lead to scarring. Application of creams, lotions or ointments is not recommended either. The best course of action is to allow the milia to resolve on their own. If they persist or are bothersome, seek medical assistance.